Landlord-Tenant and Collections Paralegal

Fairstead is a purpose-driven real estate firm dedicated to building affordable communities across the country. Headquartered in New York, with offices in Colorado, Florida, and Washington DC, Fairstead owns and manages a portfolio of more than 30,000 apartments, including pipeline, across 28 states. As an integrated owner, operator, and innovator, Fairstead brings development, construction, and property management under one unified platform to deliver high-quality affordable housing that serves our residents at scale.

At Fairstead, we believe affordable housing should be thoughtfully designed, professionally managed, and responsibly operated. We seek to create and preserve housing that serves residents while delivering long-term value to communities, partners, and stakeholders.

Fairstead challenges industry norms through our tech-forward, entrepreneurial approach to affordable housing. In addition to core real estate capabilities, we operate innovative service lines designed to improve resident outcomes, strengthen communities, and drive operational efficiency. We embrace digital transformation, data-driven decision-making, and emerging technologies, including AI, to build scalable systems that support sustainable growth, grounded in a culture of entrepreneurship, innovation, partnership, dedication, and integrity.

We are seeking a proactive and organized Landlord-Tenant and Collections Paralegal to join our team in New York. This role will primarily involve serving as a liaison between ownership, property managers, and outside counsel handling landlord-tenant matters. The ideal candidate will maintain accurate records of open matters, track case progress, and ensure ownership is kept informed with regular updates and reports. Additionally, the Paralegal will serve as the first point of contact for outside landlord-tenant counsel to resolve matters effectively providing recommendations for improvements or changes as needed, under the guidance of the Senior Manager for Collections and Landlord-Tenant Administration and other members of the in-house legal team.

Responsibilities:

• Act as the primary point of contact between ownership, property management staff, and outside counsel on landlord-tenant disputes, eviction proceedings, and other related cases and routine legal matters at site (e.g., small claims cases and other basic property-related litigation matters).
• Work with outside counsel to effectively and timely resolve legal matters, ensuring deadlines are met and strategies align with ownership’s goals.
• Monitor and maintain detailed records and reports of active legal matters, including litigation, administrative proceedings, and compliance requirements.
• Collaborate with property managers and ownership to gather necessary documentation, such as leases, correspondence, and rent histories, to initiate and maintain legal matters.
• Work with property management and accounting staff to ensure that management remains in compliance with court
• Assist with drafting routine correspondence, notices, and internal memos related to landlord-tenant issues.
• Organize resident meetings to review account balances, legal case status, delinquency history, or any other topics related to a tenant’s ability to meet their lease obligations. 
• Review legal bills and invoices from outside landlord-tenant counsel to ensure accuracy and adherence to budgetary guidelines.
• Stay updated on changes in landlord-tenant law that may impact ownership or property management practices.

Benefits

• Generous employer contribution for Medical Insurance through Meritain Health. 
• Employer Paid Vision Plans.
• Company Matched 401(k) Retirement Plan: 100% of the first 3%; 50% of the next 2%.
• 12+ paid Holidays.
• 15 days of PTO.
• 7 Sick days.
• Employer Paid Life Insurance.
• Flexible Spending Account.
• Nationwide Pet Insurance.
• Disability Insurance.
• Laser Correction Discount.
• Employee Discounts on appliances, apparel, and more.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Minimum of 3 - 5 years of experience as a paralegal or similar role in either a law firm or in-house legal department, with a focus on New York landlord-tenant law.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and case management tools.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Knowledge of legal and laws and regulations related to affordable housing, tenant rent vouchers and NYCHA compliance preferred, but not required.

• Hybrid Work Arrangement: This is a hybrid position that allows the paralegal to work remotely. The position requires on-site visits to designated properties approximately 2–4 times per month, as needed.

Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.

Diversity in backgrounds and experiences is key to Fairstead’s success. Being an equal opportunity employer is a central tenet of our philosophy that shapes who we are and the communities we serve. Our goal is to ensure competitive total compensation that is commensurate with experience, location, and other market benchmarks. 

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